BOSTON – All around the NHL, there are players who want nothing to do with coming to New York. Joel Bouchard is most definitely not among them.

The 29-year-old defenseman, whom the Rangers reacquired in Friday’s Waiver Draft, didn’t even to try to stop smiling upon joining the Blueshirts before yesterday’s 2-1 preseason victory over the Bruins in Boston. It was as if he had clicked his skates three times and said, “There’s no place like home.”

“Even when I signed with Buffalo as a free agent over the summer, my heart was with the Rangers,” said Bouchard, who played 27 games with the Blueshirts last season before going to Pittsburgh in the Feb. 10 Alex Kovalev deal and later signing a $450,000 contract with the Sabres.

“There were about nine teams interested in signing me; when it came down to making a decision, it was between the Sabres and Rangers, and I signed with Buffalo because I thought I could make more progress in my career as an offensive defenseman.

“But I tell you – and this is nothing against the organization in Buffalo because they are very classy and treated me with respect – when I signed the contract I was sick to my stomach. I wanted always to be in New York. That’s where my heart is.”

A December recall from Hartford last year when Brian Leetch injured his left foot, Bouchard paired with Tom Poti, going plus-six while registering 12 points (5-7) in 27 games. He provided punch from the back, and was plus (10) or even in 21 matches before going to the Penguins. With Leetch injured again, it remains to be seen whether Glen Sather will break up the Poti-Greg de Vries pair he’s been using to reunite last year’s successful tandem.

While the move was nothing but good news for Bouchard, it almost certainly means that Fedor Tjutin, so impressive over the past week, will at least start the season getting major minutes in Hartford. It also impacts Dale Purinton, who has slid down the depth chart after a mediocre camp and is likely available on the trade market.

What happens when Leetch returns is anybody’s guess. But then, it’s anybody’s guess when Leetch – who still has not skated, a full three weeks after sustaining the injury – will return.

* In claiming three players in the Waiver Draft – Bouchard and wingers Sheldon Keefe and Mike Siklenka, who all played yesterday – the Rangers were required to drop three players from their own protected list. The Post has learned that the Rangers exposed, in order, Darius Kasparaitis, Chris Simon and Dan LaCouture. All are considered to have cleared waivers.